Preston

Preston's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census show there were changes in marriage, health and relationships.

The population passed 140,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Preston increased by 8.2%, from just under 130,000 to 140,000.

The addition of almost 11,000 people means this area's population was the third-fastest-growing in the North West and increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Preston was home to, on average, 7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Preston

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Preston remained 35 years.

This city had a lower average age than the North West and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 5,300 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 1,000.

About 18% of people in Preston are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Preston by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Preston

This area saw the North West's third-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

Across the region, only Liverpool (from 42% to 50%) and Salford (from 35% to 43%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

Every local authority area across the North West saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 30% to 36%.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (41%) people aged 16 and over in Preston said they were single, compared with 34% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 48% to 41%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

More students

The percentage of Preston residents that were studying increased from 4.3% to 6.3% between the last two censuses.

The proportion who said they were employed remained close to 50%, while the percentage of Preston residents that were unemployed increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The proportion of students increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the North West (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Preston increased by 2.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Preston, the North West and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Preston residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 10% to 6.1% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67% in 2001. The percentage of Preston residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Preston decreased by 4.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Preston, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

The percentage of single-person households increased in Preston at a faster rate than in nearby Wyre.

In Preston, the proportion of single-person households increased from 31% in 2001 to 34% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Wyre increased from 29% to 30%.

Across the North West, the share of single-person households increased from 31% to 32%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Preston increased from 7.9% to 9.5%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 34% to 30%.

The percentage of households with only a single-person was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households that that comprised only a single person across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

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